A Collective Response To Helping Others

Singapore-based non-profit Global Clinic provides free, specialized healthcare in dentistry, ophthalmology and women’s health to communities in need

- DR Marcus Ang

A number of volunteer health programs fail because they are unable to sustain their services. Without follow-up care and consultation, progressive recovery is often compromised. Global Clinic, a Singapore-based non-profit organization is keenly aware of this predicament. The group, which delivers free specialized healthcare in dentistry, ophthalmology and women’s health to communities in need, ultimately aims to ensure that the communities they serve continue to receive cost-effective, quality healthcare in the long term.

“We embark on overseas medical missions each year,” says Dr. Marcus Ang, Founding Director and Head of Global Clinic’s Vision Team. “In these we take a two-pronged approach with our initiatives to transform the lives of the people we serve.” Global Clinic works closely with the communities to improve healthcare standards, not just through immediate, short-term healthcare solutions such as setting up medical clinics and surgical expeditions.

The group’s other objective on every mission is to provide medical equipment and focus on education, skills transfer, and knowledge sharing with locals on the ground, including doctors, medical and non-medical staff. After the locals complete their training, Global Clinic offers them instruments for further development opportunities such as scholarships and vocational training funds to support them as they continue to serve their community. “In this way, we encourage these communities to continue our efforts and run them effectively without us,” Dr. Ang explains.

Collective Response

In 2014, Dr. Ang started a charity program called the Mobile Eye Clinic for the underprivileged elderlies in Singapore. The program reaches out to the needy in the heartlands and provides them with access to eye care. Global Clinic is yet another project that Dr. Ang has founded and describes as “close to my heart”.